RIO DE JANEIRO -- Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez accused FIFA of an indiscriminate use of power by imposing an “excessive” punishment on striker Luis Suarez and he said he would resign from positions he holds within world soccer's governing body.

FIFA had made a “scapegoat” of Suarez and had “punished him with excessive severity” but the forward will have the full support of the Uruguayan football authorities, Tabarez told reporters on Friday.

He refused to answer questions at a packed news conference the day before his team face Colombia in their World Cup last-16 match at the Maracana, and after reading from a prepared statement for over 14 minutes left to loud applause from Uruguayan reporters.

Suarez was banned on Thursday for Uruguay's next nine competitive international matches and from any involvement in football for four months after biting defender Giorgio Chiellini in their 1-0 Group D win over Italy.

Tabarez said after seeing the images of what happened, he and his coaching staff expected action to be taken against both Suarez and Chiellini.